Souttar tells of frustration at inability to help Cathro

Hearts defender John Souttar says he felt huge frustration as he watched helplessly while former mentor Ian Cathro struggled to get results.

Souttar suffered a ruptured achilles in January, six weeks after the arrival of Cathro as head coach.

The 20-year-old came through the Dundee United youth academy when Cathro was in charge. Their reunion was cut short when Cathro was sacked two games into Souttar’s comeback.

The Scotland U21 international said: “That was a big frustration for myself that I couldn’t really help him at all.

“Even when I did play the few games, I was coming back from injury, so I wasn’t myself.”

Souttar did not get much chance to measure whether Cathro’s methods might have been successful in the long run but he pointed to another serious injury, to Callum Paterson, as evidence that events had conspired against the young coach.

Hearts take on Kilmarnock in the Ladbrokes Premiership at Rugby Park today with Jon Daly as caretaker manager.

Souttar is confident his former Tannadice team-mate can lead them to results. “I was a young boy at United, 16 years old, when Jon was captain, and he had a big presence then,” Souttar said.

“The last two weeks have been brilliant and I can see him being a top manager, whether it’s now or in the future.”

Jamie Walker is back in the Hearts squad, and full-back Liam Smith is available again after suspension.

Kilmarnock have doubts over Iain Wilson and Dom Thomas. Steven Smith, Gary Dicker, Greg Kiltie and Scott Boyd remain out.